High school football: West Jordan Jaguars 2014 preview

Here's an in-depth look at the West Jordan Jaguars football team heading into the 2014 season.

2014 schedule

Aug. 22 — HERRIMAN, 7 p.m.

Aug. 29 — at Riverton, 7 p.m.

Sept. 5 — OLYMPUS, 7 p.m.

Sept. 12 — at Hillcrest, 7 p.m.

Sept. 19 — COTTONWOOD, 7 p.m.

Sept. 26 — COPPER HILLS, 7 p.m.

Oct. 3 — JORDAN, 7 p.m.

Oct. 10 — at Brighton, 7 p.m.

Oct. 15 — at Alta, 7 p.m.

Oct. 23 — BINGHAM, 7 p.m.

Felt’s Facts for West Jordan High School

All-time record: 132-194 (33 years)

Region championships: 3 (1992, 1994, 1999 co)

Playoff appearances: 15

All-time playoff record: 4-15

State championships: 0

State championship record: 0-0

Most played rivalry: 32 meetings with Bingham dating back to 1981. Bingham leads 26-7.

Felt’s Factoid(s): WJ combined with Cottonwood for 1,216 total yards and set the single-game record for two teams (Sept. 30, 2011). ... Jaguar Michael Moorehead set a state completions and attempts record for a single game on 44 of 74 passes in 2010. ... C.J. O’Neal set the record for season receptions with an even 100 in 2009.

Note: West Jordan finished with a 1-9 overall record in 2013 and was sixth in Region 3 with an 0-5 record. It did not qualify for the 5A playoffs.

WEST JORDAN — Entering his second season, West Jordan football coach Danny DuPaix has gotten his feet wet.

He now has a year's worth of experience with the kids who are playing for him, has first-hand knowledge regarding what the competition looks like, and better understands what it means to be part of the Jaguar football family.

He also took an opportunity during the offseason to expand and deepen his coaching staff. DuPaix has recruited the expertise of the legendary Skyline High football coach, and his dad, Roger DuPaix. The addition, the head coach said, has already made a world of difference.

"It changes just about every facet, because you have a coach who has been there, who has seen every situation," the younger DuPaix said of his dad and new assistant. "He’s dealt with every type of kid that we have, the different parent situations, the different socioeconomic statuses, everything. He’s dealt with all of that, so whenever there’s a problem or something where we are unsure of what to do, we go to him."

A year ago, the elder DuPaix's football mind was out of reach while he was in the Philippines serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This time around, he is just a phone call, and during practice just a few steps, away when the head coach needs some input.

"It’s good because I can just call him on the phone, say, ‘What do we do about Johnny or Jimmy? He’s not getting his block, what are we going to do?’" Danny DuPaix said. "And he says, ‘Well, do this, A, B and C. If A doesn’t work, go to B or C.’ It’s really good to have him. It’s a level of comfort for me because I have coached with him before. And he’s pretty hard on me and the other coaches, too. He expects a lot of us because that’s how he’s always been. That’s good for the staff, it really is. We’ve just got to work harder."

Much of the work this season for both DuPaixs and the rest of the coaching staff will be invested in taking steps toward building greater mental toughness among the Jaguars.

"A lot of these young guys, even the ones that played, still lack a little bit of confidence and have a little doubt in their assignments, their responsibilities," Danny DuPaix said. "We’ve worked really hard on technique and strength, and those things are there, but how to then apply them in a game situation, or in a practice situation even, we’re still learning."

The coach will be leaning on a couple of returning players for leadership in both physical and mental aspects of the game.

Vai Jaeger, a senior running back, is one of those players. A year ago, the 5-foot-11, 205-pound athlete averaged 4.69 yards per carry and scored three rushing touchdowns as well as two handfuls of receiving yards and 12 tackles on defense.

Another leader is quarterback Brandon Gregg, a 6-foot-2 senior who had opportunities to start in two games against Alta and Brighton last season.

"He played in two very big games," DuPaix said. "They were region games and they were tough teams. It was basically throw him in and say, ‘We have to win this impossible game, and you have to lead us.’ He’s been through the toughest of the tough situations."

West Jordan Jaguars at a glance

Coach: Danny DuPaix is entering his second season at West Jordan, where he has accumulated a career record of 1-9. He is a graduate of Skyline High and the University of Utah.

Popular Comments

The game is a whole lot different than the days of option left and option right.
If the Jags expect to win they better find a qb who can pass and a coach who
isn't afraid to put the ball in the air more than 3-4 times a game. The
Jags have
More..

11:37 p.m. Aug. 19, 2014

Top comment

BigBenzo88

Herriman, UT

@Rockarolla - I think West Jordan will be better this year than last year.
Remember...the head coach is a former Herriman coach and the assistant coach is
the greatest football coach in the history of Utah high school football. I
still believe
More..